Popcorn machine



July

Filed c. E. PAGE PoPcoRN MACHINE June 2. 1945 l 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

4 C. E. PAGE PoPcoRN MACHINE July 26, 1949.

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Filed June 2, 1945 INVENTOR. C'zarZeSEf P1/ye ffy.

July 26,1949. E PAGEv 4, 2,477,416

POPCORN MACHINE Filed June 2, 1945 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 j .BMAM

ffffy.

July 26, 1949. i c. E. PAGE 4 2,477,416

` PoPcoRN MACHINE Filed Junez, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTR. 'aZffsEPage JI/fifty.

`ing over of these kernels that are in ing inward and outward travel of the kernels as. I they are moved forwardly on the popping deck or kettle bottom.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a gravity con-V trolled check-valve of a type that I may employ in the gas connection for supplying -the 'gas toA the burner, and which automatically cuts off the flow of gas to the burner when the popping kettle I is tilted to its dumping position.

Figure 8 isa section through another type of gravity controlled valve that I may employ, also `for automatically shutting" olf rthe gas to lthe burner, and this valve is of the ball type.

c Figure 9 is a section taken -about on the line f 9 9 of Figure 6 and illustrating how thev agitator arms operate to advance the kernels in the bottom layer on the kettle'bottonm and also illustrating h ow these agitators will effect the rolling or turntact with the kettle bottom.

Referring more particularly to the parts and `especially to Figures 1 and 2, I indicates a frame adapted tobe constructed of bar metal, preferably angle iron, and this frame I includes two bent 2' side bars 2, the upper 'portions of which are provided with bearings 3 for carrying trunnions 4- on which the kettlek'5 can belmounted -for rotation.

.Asv shown in-Figure 2 the kettle 5 is not directly mounted on its trunnions 4 but it isencased in 'an outer shell or housing 6 of substantially cylindrical form, that is of somewhat larger diameter than the kettle 5, the upper edge of the kettle `being provided with an'outw'ardly projecting direct conz" 4 this inclination is toward the rear with respect to the direction of rotation as the body of the arm approaches the axis of rotation. At their inner portions the arms II are substantially' radial, or nearly so, from the axis, and are connected by a merging curve I9 to the body portion Ila. At their outer ends the arms I'I incline slightly rearwardly with respect to the direction .of relation weer@ they are termed with upwardly extendingcurved 'tips 20 that exten'd'up along the inner curved facel 2| of'tlie'kettl'e, that is struck on a radius and which merges the upper face of the kettle bottom into its side wall.

f During the rotation of the agitator the kernels of corn that are in contact with the driving side 'of the body Ila will be moved gradually and progressivelyinwardly toward the center of the agi- Y tator, on account of the direction of inclination ilange 5d.A VOn the underside of this flange seats e the upper ange 'I of the cylindrical/casing 6.

This casing 6 'operates as clothing to retain the v heat' from the burner 8 up the side of the kettle. In other words, there is an annular'space 9 between' the cylindricalwall of the kettle and the casing 6, up which thegases of combustionpass from the kettle bottom I0; and the casing 6 is provided with a plurality of vents II at an elevated point shown inrFigure 1, and'with similar f -vents `I2 that are located at a somewhat lower level. These latter vents provide secondary air for combustion, facilitate the'circulation of the vhot air up around the kettle, and prevent-overheating of the kettle. f

In a machine of this type, havingr a substantially cylindrical kettlel I provide a rotary type of agitator I3, which is provided with a central Vhub* I4 secured by a set-screw I5 to thelower end `of an agitator shaftIS. The agitator comprises f 'alpluralityo arms I'I preferably having substantially the shape illustrated in Figure-6.1 .The arms 4are formed of small, stout, spring wire, the inner ends of which are bent around and .welded lto an 'f angular neck I8 formed at the lower end vof hub I4. As illustrated in'FigureB by the arrow, the

' 'direction of rotation of the agitator. I3 is clockywise, andthe body portions A-IIa of the arms I1 are :disposed in an inclined position withrespect to 4 ,.aradialline from lthe axis ofthe shaft1l6, and

the proper poppingv of the;kernels. I Referring again to Figure 1,- the driving shaft .I6 for thelagi-tator :passespupithrough a bearing J 23:.forme`d inl a cross-bar orbridge-bar 24, the ends of `which are turned down to formfeet 24a `of Athese bodies. This tends to Iproduce a crowding of the kernels in the middle zone or central Zone adjacent to the shaft I-B, so that when the kernelsarriveat-this: zone the overcrowding efv-fectliten'ds to produce an outward movement of fthe kernels inthe spaces between the arms II.

Furthermore, as indicated in Figure 9, as the arms nI'I sweep ialongltherbottom 0f the .kettletheir V`drivings-ides engageV the-layer of kernels that is res-ting directly on'the bottom, andas the arms sweep along. intheir driving movement'they cause turning or rolling of the kernels y22 .(see Figure v`9) k.This is a highlya'dvantageous effect because it prevents the bottom-layers of thekernels from resting for too great a length fof -timein one position onthe bottom,.and .thisyof course, prevents any localized burning whichv might penetrate through the depth 0f'V the shelliof the kernel. `If thatoccurs thefshell willnotretain the hot gases .that A,form within the kernehby reason .of the heating, '.which, of course. iwould interfere with (see Figures V2 vand 2a),V which are. attached by screws 2411 to theinner face lof the Akettle Vadja- -cent to its upper edge. This cross-bar or bridge s 24 has yanintegraliextension25 fthat forms a `supportin'g seat-for one of; the bearings for the drivingV mechanism, as7 will be 1 described presently.

' The upper side'of the cross-bar or bridge 24 su-pports a'plate-form lcover 26 Afor the kettle,.and

1 over toward the on the upperside of the. coverA a. gear mounting or pedestal 2l is'provided through the upper end of which the .shaft |16 extends to carry a bevel gear 28`meshing with a similar-bevel gear 29 carried-on a: driving shaft-'30;v YThis shaft extends back, or upper frame3I of the machine. l i

The red-uctiongearGv and the motor 31 are mounted on asuitable bracket 38, supported .on the upper end of' theback frame v3|. The direction of rotation of theshaft 30 isindictaed Iby L the arrowdn Figure.1,fwhich will give theagif arrow-inFigure 6.y

tator- I1 a clockwise rotation as indi-cated by the On' theshaft 30v al worm-gear'39 is secured,| 'meshing withthe worm 33, and these two parts are designed'sothat the shaft39 'willbe given f the thrust of the helix-of.` the worm against the thefdirection of rotation indicated. The worm 33 has a righthand driving helix on it, and hence,

teeth of the worm-gear'39 is 'exerted inan'inclined direction 'as viewed in plan, so the thrust is toward the back frame 3I. .Byreason of this uuaue mme@ 'bracket pportedffor I0- that descerid te "aiveiiriear thecnormal 1eve1-.of the "lower end=of the shell fahdxthellidfza Willizthen `harigdown", `as indicated inldottediines; ina suhlstantially Averticali position; 'When ,this-occurs the cover. 2,5 willhe idi'spesedvin i an iinclined .posie- Ltion and Ftheupoppedeorn will frunfor slide-'down and pass out of the kettle. This will depositaitle fpopcern `iirto lan l upper grading-span 46 that is ffsupportedilike iaidraweriinizthe louterapa tiofifhe frame lI. '.'his.;.pan icas apetoratedf bettomiriot illustrated, ,"that civili permita the lunpop'ped ,corn xto'ffall fin-to iaflowerlipantdlwhich, ofzcourse, takes :the tailings fromvthegrading-spari461" These fpansican `the pulled -1 tout? ,from-1'fiiie;l to :time and r;dumped;` for:` which fpurpo'se `they `are pvdd with handles 158 at their outer ends, which may proje'ctattlie orward :sidei` oit stheinachin asainidicatedingurel; i i i ,;.'I'lhe.:machinel is providedf with-fmeansifor.;supplyrg gaseousiuel': to .ltheihurner iinisucent Quantity tto, pop'A .the corn when; the kettle 5 s iii .its rupi'ightnor normal positior'ri andnthe .g`as connections for thispurposeinolude ,'automatic means .forisayingl gfas' consumption by shutting loff fthe. burner when `.thelrkettle' is ein L its'. Ldump l ,ing "position :The..fburnerix8,iisi illustrated; in Fig- `1urer2 as" supported .ion a plurality loffradially `:disiepsedlong bolts L49', the..t:th`readediendsifwhich fate frecived .threaded :sockets 'on :the-periphery of the burner. Their outer ends are-mounted wint-.boltfh-olesoinfthe casing .16 and iprovidedwxifith ascreW-drivervheads. S'Ilor.fseeilt-ing.` theme-fn zplace. :.L'l'ihe "burner,4 is? suppliednwith i fiielithrougli an 1inletconnectionii' s(seeFig.ure :3.)that;:dellivers :theuel into a Sgoose4neck-shapedgwenturig512 inthe wouter en'dfof #which .,-isl` formed fiintoga` :bell mout-h iintdwhich the reducedendforinozzle 5211. idf the inlet-@51| Lexi-ends, 'sofssto'lattain `aziitentuii 'effeot The .construction Eat this iiilt includes laine dustable air mixerhplate 255i :litany-"suitable vid a ducting Thouterndfoffthe gas connection lfifi is attached-toe swivel-gas iittingzssfthatis'frmed has eswing-jointeonnectioh, notiuustratedgtuat Figures?, 4, and `5, fand include a centralpoi- `tion 'o`rhub-'f'foritheburner which-has a chafmber 1I within it to which the gasnishadmitte'd frein jbe'lovfV afterpas'sig'up vthrough the" goose necl; 52;' `tlii's' enables this current of adrlr'iitted'gfas tolir'npinge' upona crown or disperser'W-all, flou/- ingatri'ght ang-lesto the plane of the crown. 'meadow-rimas its `r'reatest 'depth 'at the central point "12,'from which point' the face 131 of this crown'extends'umvardly as" it approaches 'the periphery' f theme10: jin this'way thevgiii- `coming` gas is' diverted, Without regurgitation effects, scf-that thexgas will flow outwardlyinthe -s'tibs'tatilllyradialtducts 14 that extend yoff from the `ceri'tral?chan'ibei" 1 l', and which lead out `to the Arim or lanriul's"15 oftheburner. 'Tliis'ryannulus 'inlthe present 4iristance,--'i`sof circular form; and

outlets or perfcrations 16 are drilled holes havv ing their axes disposed at an angle 'of approximately 30 from the vertical, and the set of per-- the outer side direct it outwardly. I In this way a suicient quantity of gas is supplied fiorI an efficient operation of the burner. I prefer, also, to form these perforations k1li on annular, conical faces or zones 11 which are' disposed ata slight distance from theouter surface of the ring or annulus 15, which forms the outer portion or periphery of the burner. lThis operates to provide a depression or valley 18, developed between the two sets of orifices to which thevair above the burner has ready access for feeding the name with oxygen.

The cross-section of eachof the radial ducts 14 is substantially the same as thatlillustrated in Figure 5 for the ring 15; in other. words, the uppersurface of the cover wall of each duct 14 is provided with two inclined boss-bands 19 that extend parallel with each other along the upper side of eachradial duct, and eachof these boss-bands is provided with perforations :B8 similarto the perforations 15 ;Y and these perforations are also formed on .axes inclinedv outwardly in an upward direction so as to-direct the ilames issuing from them divergently, and in a lateral direction from the axes of the ducts '14. i

The gas fitting 65 is provided with a pilotvalve 8l having a hand-wheel 82 for setting the same to any desired degree of opening, and this valve has a pilot-tube or burner 83 vthat extends off from it and presents its tip 84 ina position to ignite the gas issuing from the burner 8 whenever itis turned on. l

As this pilot-valve 8| is located before the check-valve 58 with respect to the direction of the flow of the gas, it is evident that the gas will always be furnished to the pilotitube' 83 regardless of any position the kettle may assume.

In connection 4with this burner 8 :it should be noted-that when the gas flowing outwardly in the radial ducts 14 arrives atthe ring or. annulus 15the gas will divideritself into'two currents flowing Vin opposite directions in Ythe Yannulus as indicated by the'arrows at 85 in Figure 3. This insures an ample supply of gas to the oriiices 16 that are located on the portions ofA the annulus 15 that are located about midway between any two adjacent ducts 14. This burner hasbeen found in practice to be extremely efficient as a burner. It has relatively large internal volume relative to the rate of consumption soY as to def' velop a plenum-chamber effect that makes for uniformity of consumption of gas at all its outlets. L

In Figure 8 I illustrate another type of checkvalve that I may substitute for the valve 58 illustrated in Figure 7. This valve 85 is a balltype check-valve and has a ball chamber 86 within it, with a valve seat 81 at one end for this ball. This valve 85 will be connected up into the pipe connection 51 in such a Way that the flow of the gas would be'from right to` left. When the kettle is in its normal, upright position the ball S8, moving-freely in theballcham- .ber 88, would occupy a position such as illustrated in Figure'S, but in the kdumping position of the kettle the ball would rest on the seat 81, and shut off the flow of gas to the burner. The inner surface of the wall of the ball chamber 86 is, of course, curved somewhatas shown so as, to assist in guiding the ball 88 onto its seat fill 81.1V In this View theposition of the ball on the seat isindicatedin dotted outline. O-f course the pressure off-,gas tends to seat the ball, and the stronger the pressure, the better the seating effect. r

An adjustable stop 89 in the form of an-adjustable bolt (see Figure 1) is provided mounted )in theframe. This stop engages the endof shaft 30. or somepart near, or associated with, the shaft to prevent the worm wheel from meshing to close into the worm. l The mode of operation of the entire machine Will now be briefly recapitulated. While the kettle 5 and its casing 6 are in the upright position illustrated in full lines in Figure 1 the lid 26a would be lifted, by the attendant, on its hingeconnection 44, so as to permit the charge of un-- popped corn to beV placed within the kettle 5A The switchk (not illustrated) for-the circuit to the electric motor 31 would then be closed, and the gas valve 58 opened, so as to start up the popping operation. The burner gas immediately ignites,

. and the agitator spider i3 will immediately commence rotating so as to agitate the kernels of corn onthe bottom of the kettle. When the batch of popcorn is substantially all popped the attendant will seize the crank 6a and pull it toward him, assuming that he is standing in front of the machine. This will tilt the kettle and its casingr 8 downwardly toward the front, and

will eventually lower `the cover of the kettle toV the nearly inverted position such as that in which it is indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. vThe lid 26a will then swing open by gravity and the popcornA within the kettle will fall out through the opening normally closed by the lid, and will descend into the grading .pan 46. By shaking this pan to and fro the unpopped corn will pass through into the lower1 pan 41.V Each of Vthese pans is supported like a drawer ron the frame I and when desired they can be pulled out and dumped'.

l Asfsoon as the tilting movement of the kettle and'its casing-B commences, the worm-gear 39 will swing upwardly on the trunnions 4 as an axis, and will disengage itself from the Worm 33.

This of course will stop the drive to the agitator shaft Iii.V However, if it becomes necessary to rotate .the agitator this can be accomplished through the agency of the handle 43 on the crank 42.

As the kettle and its casing 6 are arriving at the inverted, or dumping, position illustrated in the dotted outlines in Figure 1, the gravity-controlled check-valve 58 will close vand shut off flow of gasto the burner 8; but will not affect the pilot burner 83 which supplies gas continuously to maintain the pilot flame.

The hose 69 maintains itself as a flexible connection for supplying the fuel to the pilot burner in any position in' which the kettle may be placed, and due to the use of the swivel fitting 65, when thekettle is restored to its upright position the main burner 8 will light automatically from the pilotV flame. l

Theoperation of the agitator is important. .Located as it is, substantially against the bottom of the kettle 5, its arms I1 will maintain themselves in contact with'the kernels ofcorn that are resting directly on `the kettle bottom. As these arms `l1 sweep around on the bottom of the kettle they will cause the kernels at the bottom of the batch of corn to turn over and over so that they Will not be left for more than a fraction of a second with the same point on their shells in 9 contact with the hot bottom of the kettle; in other words, they will be continuously rolled over and over; if not contacted directly by the arm, they will be pushed or rolled by kernels that` are in contact with the arms. This prevents burning or weaking the skin ofthe kernels in such a way as to prevent them from developing the internal pressure that pops them.

By reason of the inclined direction of the body Ha of these arms I1 the kernels toward the periphery will travel inwardly toward the central zone of the bottom of the kettle, and this will increase the density of the kernels near the middle zone; that is to say, will produce a crowding effect so that after the kernels have been moved inwardly along the arms they will be caught in a current of kernels moving outwardly between the arms, so that a kind of rip tide effect is obtained. This produces a thorough stirring and agitation of all the kernels and insures very uniform and thorough popping of the entire batch.

If desired, the shaft 33a for the worm 33 may be extended to form a long shaft that may be driven by a single larger motor. In this way one motor may drive the agitators of a gang of these pop- 1 corn machines. In other words, the individual motor drives would be dispensed with, and, of course, any kettle in the gang could be dumped and operated without effecting the operation of any of the other machines in the gang.

The kettle 5 and the bridge-bar 24 are preferably made of #43 aluminum alloy that is impervious to the salt and oil used in corn popping operations. The cover 26 and the casing shell E, however, are preferably composed of stainless steel.

If the kettle is overloaded so greatly as to stall the motor, then the torsion in the shaft 30 will `cause the worm to force the worm wheel 39 out of engagement with it; This will call the attention of the attendant who will then grab the crank 42 and forcibly rotate the agitator to clear it.

Many other embodiments of this invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a popcorn machine or the like, the combination of a frame, a popcorn kettle, trunnions supporting the kettle on said frame, and enabling the same to be swung into a substantially inverted, dumping, position for eiecting the discharge of the popped corn, a burner associated with the kettle for heating the same, a flexible connection for operating said burner, gravity- /lil controlled means for substantially shutting off operation of the burner when the kettle is in its dumping position, an agitator for the popcorn mounted adjacent the popping deck of the kettle, driving mechanism for driving the agitator including a relatively xed driving-gear supported on the frame, and a relatively movable drivengear mounted on the said kettle so as to move in unison with the kettle when it is moved away from its upright position, and so as to disconnect the driving connection when the holder is moved toits dumping position.

2. In a popcorn machine or the like, the combination of a frame, a popcorn kettle with trunnions supporting the same on said frame to enable the kettle to be moved from its normal upright position to a dumping position, an agitator mounted within the kettle adjacent to its popping deck, an agitator shaft extending upwardly from the agitator1 for driving the same, means for driving the agitator shaft including a driving worm mounted on the frame, and a worm-gear driven thereby, supported on the kettle, meshing with the worm and operating to move away from the worm and break the driving connection to the agitator when the holder is moved to its dumping position.

3. A popcorn machine according to claim 2 in which the worm-gear is mounted so as to rest on the upper side of the worm when the kettle is in its upright position.

4. A popcorn machine according to claim 2 in which the thrust of the thread of the Worm against the worm-gear is in a direction tending to move the kettle and the worm-gear toward the worm, to maintain the worm-gear in contact with the worm.

CHARLES E. PAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,822 Doty r Aug. 19, 1890 1,160,413 Kellogg Nov. 16, 1915 1,260,442 Pickup Mar. 26, 191s 1,272,725 Talbert et al July 16, 1918 1,695,587 Harris Dec. 18, 1928 1,759,475 Walker May 20, 1930 1,880,822 Cook et al. Oct. 4, 1932 2,115,956 Jorgenson May 3, 1938 2,254,271 Cretors Sept. 2, 1941 

